---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never hurt writers. They may forgive you…"
description: "\"“Never hurt writers. They may forgive you, but their pen never does.”\" — J. Alchem"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/j-alchem-52269_forgiveness_never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you_1104094.jpg"
---

#  Never hurt writers. They may forgive you, but their pen…

![“Never hurt writers. They may forgive you, but their pen never does.” quote by J. Alchem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/j-alchem-52269_forgiveness_never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you_1104094.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/j-alchem-52269_forgiveness_never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you_1104094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/j-alchem-52269_forgiveness_never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you_1104094.jpg)

> ““Never hurt writers. They may forgive you, but their pen never does.””

[J. Alchem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-alchem/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writers' words endure; criticism can scar their reputation forever.

**In simple terms:** Criticism can permanently damage a writer's reputation.

Key Takeaway

Choose words carefully when addressing writers.

Themes

respect communication creativity

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice warning

When to use this quote

- editing feedback
- public criticism
- online comments

Key Concepts

reputation impact language

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you give constructive feedback without harming a writer?
- What impact does harsh criticism have on creative confidence?

A Different Perspective

Writers may not forgive the damage to their work.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [“The power of the pen does not reside in the ink but in the character of the person doing the writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-fruh/the-power-of-the-pen-does-not-reside-in-the-ink-but-in-the-character/)

[Aaron Fruh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-fruh/)

> [People who go on to be writers are those who can forgive themselves the horror of the first draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/people-who-go-on-to-be-writers-are-those-who-can-forgive-themselves/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [All writers, I think, are to one extent or another, damaged people. Writing is our way of repairing ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-writers-i-think-are-to-one-extent-or-another-damaged-people/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Writers are often the worst judges of what they have written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/writers-are-often-the-worst-judges-of-what-they-have-written/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [“Personal trainers and writers don't end up in history books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caspar-vega/personal-trainers-and-writers-don-t-end-up-in-history-books/)

[Caspar Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caspar-vega/)

> [Writers and intellectuals have a duty to humanity. It is to insist that the human entity remains the primary asset in overall development; thus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/writers-and-intellectuals-have-a-duty-to-humanity-it-is-to-insist/)

[Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/)

> [“It’s a great day to write a best-seller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffy-andrews/it-s-a-great-day-to-write-a-best-seller/)

[Buffy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffy-andrews/)

> [If the writers all come from the same backgrounds, you are going to get the same sorts of characters. Get a broader variety of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-okonedo/if-the-writers-all-come-from-the-same-backgrounds-you-are-going-to/)

[Sophie Okonedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-okonedo/)

> [Writers are used to being re-created, and need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/writers-are-used-to-being-re-created-and-need-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Writing is the life blood of everything in Hollywood. Without writers, there are no scripts, no acting work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/writing-is-the-life-blood-of-everything-in-hollywood-without-writers/)

[Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/)

> [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [“A disproportionate number of stories are love stories – and what is homosexuality but a special narrative of love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bram/a-disproportionate-number-of-stories-are-love-stories-and-what-is/)

[Christopher Bram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bram/)

> [The talk shows in the States want celebrities, not authors. In France, it is different; writers are called upon to comment on everything. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-talk-shows-in-the-states-want-celebrities-not-authors-in-france/)

[Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/)

> [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/)

[Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/)

> [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/)

[Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/)

## More by J. Alchem

> [“A writer in pain is as blessed as a couple in rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/a-writer-in-pain-is-as-blessed-as-a-couple-in-rain/)

[J. Alchem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-alchem/)

> [“You don't choose the novels, they choose you,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/you-don-t-choose-the-novels-they-choose-you/)

[J. Alchem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-alchem/)

> [“If she isn’t with me, I would be lost for sure. I would never want my nightmare to be true,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/if-she-isn-t-with-me-i-would-be-lost-for-sure-i-would-never-want-my/)

[J. Alchem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-alchem/)

> [“Writers should measure their life not in years, but in moments of writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/writers-should-measure-their-life-not-in-years-but-in-moments-of/)

[J. Alchem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-alchem/)

> [“Life is not about missing what is gone but counting and cherishing what you have.”   He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/life-is-not-about-missing-what-is-gone-but-counting-and-cherishing/)

[J. Alchem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-alchem/)

> [“Ayaan was sitting still, his head turned towards the window, watching the trees lose the race against our car. Maybe they had given up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/ayaan-was-sitting-still-his-head-turned-towards-the-window-watching/)

[J. Alchem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-alchem/)

[Explore all 7 J. Alchem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-alchem/)

## More Forgiveness quotes

> [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/)

[Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/)

> [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/)

Serge Kahili King

> [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/)

[Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/)

> [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/)

Enhance Dreams

> [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/)

[Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/)

> [Friendship means understanding, not argument. it means forgiveness, not forgetting. it means the memories last, even if contact is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sokhom/friendship-means-understanding-not-argument-it-means-forgiveness-not/)

[Sokhom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sokhom/)

> [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/)

[Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/)

> [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [“Have an open mind and heart. Learn to journey in understanding and forgiveness. It's not always going to be easy but it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elle/have-an-open-mind-and-heart-learn-to-journey-in-understanding-and/)

[Alexandra Elle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elle/)

> [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/)

[Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/)

> [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/)

[Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/)

> [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/)

[Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/)

[Browse all 8,311 Forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Never hurt writers. They may forgive you, but their pen never does.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J. Alchem"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you-but-their-pen-never-does/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Forgiveness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you-but-their-pen-never-does/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/j-alchem-52269_forgiveness_never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you_1104094.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/j-alchem-52269_forgiveness_never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you_1104094.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/j-alchem-52269_forgiveness_never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you_1104094.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Never hurt writers. They may forgive you, but their pen never does.” — J. Alchem",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "J. Alchem",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-alchem/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Never hurt writers. They may forgive...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you-but-their-pen-never-does/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-alchem/never-hurt-writers-they-may-forgive-you-but-their-pen-never-does/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
